One of the men arrested in connection to the weekend “street racing takeover” near the Nashville airport, which police say involved more than 60 vehicles, was previously arrested and released on low bonds in March and June.
Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said in a press release that officers found more than 60 vehicles engaged in “dangerous driving stunts” at about 1 a.m. at the intersection of McGavock Pike at Century Boulevard. Media reports indicate that while other vehicles blocked traffic, a white Dodge Charger was “doing donuts and burnouts” when officers witnessed a man fire a gunshot into the air from the vehicle.
Police say officers tried to stop the vehicle, but it fled, and more “gunshots were seen coming from the Charger during the brief pursuit.” Police said the driver ultimately surrendered to police.
Four men were arrested, according to police. They include alleged driver, Xavier Daimwood, 19, was charged with inciting a riot, evading arrest, and multiple driving offenses; alleged shooter, Lakota Young, 20, was charged with illegal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, and rioting. Alleged passengers, Justin Oakes, 18, and Gharri Brown, 19, were both charged with rioting.
Brown was previously arrested twice this year in nearby Shelbyville, according to The Shelbyville Times-Gazette.
On March 4, the Times-Gazette reported Brown was stopped by law enforcement “due to very dark window tint,” and a deputy reported finding “100 grams of marijuana and approximately 50 grams of an unknown pink powder” during a vehicle search. The outlet reported Brown was assigned a $6,000 bond, and posted it.
Months later, on June 24, the Times-Gazette reported Brown was arrested and charged with driving on a suspended license, driving without insurance, issues with his vehicle’s registration, and intending to manufacturer, distribute, or sell drugs. Brown was again released, this time on a $2,500 bond.
A 2020 study published by the University of Utah claims that Cook County, Illinois, which reformed its bail system with the goal of eliminating cash bail, suffered from “a substantial increase in crimes committed by pretrial releasees,” with a 45 percent increase to the number of those already charged with crimes committing additional crimes.
The Tennessee Star previously reported that career criminal Shaquille Taylor, who allegedly shot a Belmont University student in the head, causing her death, was previously assigned a $10,000 bail in an auto theft case in September.
Prior to that release, Taylor was deemed in May to be mentally incompetent to stand trial, and unlikely to ever become competent, for felony aggravated assault charges he received in 2021.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Gharri Brown” by Metro Nashville Police Department.